The 2013 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue has stirred backlash from several popular blogs including Jezebel and Shanghaiist. The photoshoot featured swimsuit-clad models on seven continents, several of which also pictured "locals" in the background.

The picture below shot in Guangxi, China caused a stir on Shanghaiist.

shanghaiist.com

CHINA • 11 hours ago − As a photographer living in China, I find these images borderline insulting and exploitative. If I wasn't a red-blooded male of the species, I just might find it totally offensive.shanghaiist.com

A majority of responses on Jezebel's Facebook page argued that having local populations as backdrops was problematic.

And yes the exploitation of black and brown people continue. All to sell a magazine. Seriously who thought of this concept?Alisa Shockley

Kate Upton is also posing with penguins, while other models are posing with tribal/rural people from other continents. Because humans from other cultures are zoo animals. DUH.Bhaswati Chattopadhyay

I think the thing is hilariously stupid. Who is the target audience? Men who buy Sports Illustrated and prepubescent boys. Neither of which want to see anything but half-naked bikini models. The "human props" are just unneeded. Too funny...Jim Beckert